Life and politics from the Sunshine State's best city

Jim Kennedy backs Robert Blackmon for St. Pete City Council

St. Petersburg City Councilman Jim Kennedy is throwing his support to Robert Blackmon in the crowded campaign to succeed Karl Nurse in the City Council District 6 race.

“I’m supporting Robert Blackmon because his longtime ties to the community and knowledge of our city make him the best choice to represent our diverse neighborhoods,” Kennedy said in a statement. “Robert is the candidate best-equipped tackle the issues that are facing St. Pete, and we can count on him to work tirelessly for the betterment of our city.”

Kennedy is in his final months of an eight-year term as the District 2 Councilman. The election is a non-partisan contest, but for what it’s worth, Kennedy is a Democrat and Blackmon a Republican.

“Jim Kennedy is a community leader in the truest sense of the word,” Blackmon said. “He has an unrivaled passion for our city and I am humbled to have the support of someone who has done so much for our community.”

Blackmon is one of eight candidates trying to survive the Aug. 29 primary. The other candidates are Justin Bean, Gina Driscoll, Maria Scruggs, Akile Cainion, James Scott, Jim Jackson and Corey Givens, Jr.

The top two finishers will move on to the general election in November, when the entire city can vote on the race.

Mitch Perry has been a reporter with Extensive Enterprises since November of 2014. Previously, he served as five years as the political editor of the alternative newsweekly Creative Loafing. He also was the assistant news director with WMNF 88.5 FM in Tampa from 2000-2009, and currently hosts MidPoint, a weekly talk show, on WMNF on Thursday afternoons. He began his reporting career at KPFA radio in Berkeley. He's a San Francisco native who has now lived in Tampa for 15 years and can be reached at mitch.perry@floridapolitics.com.